flyfisher51's Blog

May 2010
May 31, 2010 | 4:51 PM PST
Tag: May 31st

I think it's really great to come to G.G. And find so many new gardeners, or at least bloggers. I liked reading blogs from some old friends this month also. For my birthday I got two really great gifts. One was a chain saw that I wanted to cut down the apple tree. I picked an electric one, which made my wife feel better as I asked the clerk if it would cut through bone. She figures if someone is irritating me they just have to make it to the street and I will run out of extension cord. I picked today to start cutting the tree down. It was in the high 80's and very humid. In my younger years I would have picked a spot a few inches off the ground and made my first cuts. Today I just cut down the lowest branch and cleaned it up. That took about 4 hours. It was about 7 inches thick and coated in small branches that I trimmed to wrap for the trash. I am saving some of the wood for a friend who is going to use it to smoke some meats. The reason I didn't ask for help is because I am the type of person that has to do things himself. Perhaps it gives me a sense of accomplishment, or I'm just stubborn and have to do things my way. My first adventure with the chain saw ended with a string of thunderstorms heralding the hot and humid weather. This is fine with me as they have missed us so many times in the past and I was exhausted from cutting and bundling what I had finished. I stacked the larger pieces in a 3' x 2' wood pile for the Chipmunks, and sure enough one was exploring within two hours.

I have planted four tomato plants in containers and put them on the stones. I also picked up two pepper plants. I may not plant the “Three Sisters” in the old garden this year since this is where half of the apple tree will fall. I think it will take at least a month to take the tree down and at this pace and it may be too late to start the garden.

All four rosemary and all four oregano lived through the winter in the garage. They are doing well outside and as a bonus I have an Oak Tree growing out of one of the oregano pots. Bad for the oregano, good for the oak. I figure one of the squirrels must have gone nuts searching for that acorn he hid in that pot in the fall. Perhaps he saw it in the garage, I should check for scratch marks on the door.

The perennials and the flowers we planted this spring are doing well. I'll take pictures if they do real well.

The other Birthday gift was given to me by the girls. It is a turntable that will record albums and singles to CD's. I guess I know what I'll be doing in my spare time.

The Wedding went Great. I must tell people that my Daughter is gay. We had a commitment ceremony as civil unions are not legal in PA. I will post pictures later as we get the good ones from the photographer. Almost all our friends were able to come and we had a great after party to top it off. The couple are happy and my new Daughter is starting a flower garden. She is a city girl but is very open to advise.

Happy Memorial Day and a few prayers for those who never came home.

Happy Gardening, John